A cable connection device (7) for operatively connecting two sections of cable (3) (see FIG. 1) comprises: first and second parts (9, 10) for respective connection to the first and second cable sections, said first and second parts (9, 10) having mutually engageable components (15, 16) for releasably locking the two parts together; and a release mechanism (17, 19, 31) which when activated permits the first and second parts to separate, said mechanism comprising means (31) for forcibly separating the first and second parts.